Career Hub

Meeting of the Minds

As an outplacement professional, I have worked with hundreds of men and women who have lost their jobs. One of the initial areas of concern, among others, is how to communicate being jobless with family members -- what do I say? Do I wait for them to ask? Do I simply avoid the subject as days become weeks of unemployment? Here's an idea that you and your family may find of value: family meetings. Perhaps you're already holding them, however, if you aren't, maybe now would be a good time to consider starting such an activity.

What is a family meeting, you may wonder, as it relates to being between jobs? A family meeting is similar to any other meeting where information is exchanged for a common purpose. Listed below are a few ground rules, along with a few benefits of family meetings:

Ground Rules:

1. Team participation and buy-in are both important and necessary to be successful. Advise family members of the date and time of the family meeting so that all members are present. For starters, plan on about 60 minutes for the family meeting. If your family has four members, for example, each person will have about 15 minutes of air time to share what's going on in their world, what's right, what's wrong, what their needs are and how members can provide help and support.
2. Only one person at a time speaks and shares what's on his / her mind.
3. No interruptions when a family member is speaking.
4. Listen carefully for points you might wish to clarify after the family member has spoken. (Take a notepad and pen to the family meeting, just as you would any other business meeting.)
5. No passes allowed -- all members are expected to contribute as a valued member of the team, whether they're seven or 67.
6. Honest, straightforward communication is encouraged -- that means no dancing around important family-related information or issues.
7. Create an open, trusting and respectful environment where family members are comfortable in sharing.
8. Refrain from non-verbal communication that is negative or inappropriate. (Rolling eyeballs, raised eyebrows and groans of boredom are not helpful.)
9. You don't have to agree with what is being said...you just have to agree to listen.
10. You cannot leave if you don't like what your team member is saying.
11. Questions can be asked by any family member once the speaker has concluded his/her presentation.
12. No yelling, no screaming allowed.
13. Preserve confidentiality...what's said in your family meeting isn't fodder for Facebook.
14. Communicate appreciation and thanks for attending the family meeting.
15. Make closing remarks and announce date / time of the next family meeting.

Potential Benefits/Value:

Should you start holding family meetings, only you and your family can determine the ultimate value and benefit. In general, though, you may find that this family meeting strategy can:

• create an intentional venue for more open lines of communication within your family system, especially during periods of employment transition.
• build improved relationships among family members through a spirit of we're all on the same page vs. I have no clue what's going on with him / her.
• serve as a springboard for success in other areas of your life by learning how to communicate and contribute in constructive ways (even if you're put on the spot!) Think: hot seat / interviewing!
• foster an attitude of teamwork and cooperation to achieve goals and manage challenges.
• provide an opportunity to show one another that we're family and we're in this together.
• offer accountability -- you can help one another get what you want and need to succeed.
• bring you closer together instead of drive you farther apart.
• give you a chance to share when things are going right, not just when things are going wrong.
• forge positive working relationships, a skill that can last a lifetime, be it in the living room, classroom, conference room or interview room. Meetings are meetings.
• make you feel more connected to what matters most in today's world of constant change, challenge and choice.

cross-posted billiesucherblog

Food Stamps, a New iMac and Happiness

'Money can't buy happiness.' It's an over-used cliche that came to mind this weekend while I was reading this article in the New York Times about the increase in use of food stamps. 

It's a heartbreaking read about people who have worked hard and contributed their whole lives, but who now find themselves struggling due to lost jobs or reduced overtime. The first thing that struck me is how the people in the story often see themselves as desperately in need, but think that 'everyone else' is ripping off the system. It seems that being in need isn't always enough to stimulate empathy for others. 

But the second thing that struck me was a feeling I'm sure many of us had this Thanksgiving: a feeling of gratitude that I have enough to eat. 

 This paragraph in particular struck home:

 Still, the program has filled the Dawsons’ home with fresh fruit, vegetables, bread and meat, and something they had not fully expected — an enormous sense of relief. “I know if I run out of milk, I could run down to the gas station,” said Mr. Dawson’s wife, Sheila. As others here tell it, that is a benefit not to be overlooked.

I do not, by any means, live a life of luxury. But I don't have to worry about being able to buy milk if we run out and that is something to be thankful for. 

Which brings me to the 'money can't buy happiness' cliche. Really? 

Can't it ease the strains on families like the ones in the article? Can't it give breadwinners a sense of pride that they are taking care of their families? Can't it remove the fear of being foreclosed on? 

On a much less serious note than daily survival, for the last 3 years I've been running my business on an ancient PC. It was so slow that sometimes I'd go make a cup of tea while I waited for it to open Photoshop. It regularly crashed and asked to do even the simplest task, it acted like a cranky old man being asked to get up and answer the telephone. I didn't replace it because good computers are expensive and it was still functioning. 

But when it finally gave up the ghost, I made the switch I've been thinking about for a few years and I bought an iMac. I can't even tell you the difference! 

My new computer has made the most routine of chores into something enjoyable. I hadn't realized how difficult the simplest task had become until I worked on this new machine. And I didn't realize how many little irritations and stresses were piling up throughout each day. 

When you keep losing things you're working on and have to start again - stress! When your computer just completely freezes up right when you're on a tight deadline - stress! When emails just stop coming in or going out for no apparent reason and you know people are waiting for things from you - stress! When you're in a rush, but your program just won't open and you have to reboot, a process that takes upwards of 15 minutes - stress! 

Getting a fabulous new computer has removed all that stress from my day. It may not have bought me happiness, but it has bought me freedom from unnecessary tension. Just as those food stamps have brought those families freedom from worry. 

Their need is obviously much greater than mine and I am massively grateful that my stress was coming from a dysfunctional computer and not an empty stomach, but both stories make me certain of one thing: "money can't buy happiness" is something only a rich person would say.

21 People To Be Grateful To This Thanksgiving

1. The person who made you redundant.  It may not seem like it now, but in the long run, they may have done you a huge favour. (You just don't get to find out why until much later... )

2. The recruiter who offered you genuine help and advise, even though they couldn't provide solid opportunities for you

3. Ellen Degenerous for offering the wisest (and funniest) career advice of 2009

4. Your colleagues and boss for providing security, opportunity and support through a tough year

5. Joey Tribbiani from Friends for making you laugh on those days when you just couldn't face job searching

6. God for creating Jennifer Aniston ;-)

7. Your ex-bosses for helping you gain the experience and skills on your resume/CV

8. Your family for supporting you through thick and thin

9. Susan Boyle for showing you that if you dream a dream...it sometimes comes true 

10. Simon Cowell for showing you how following your gut instincts can change a career and life (and also have an impact on Michael Jackson's memorial)

11. Sarah Pailin for keeping a look out for the Russians from her bedroom window

12. Your friends for helping you celebrate your professional highs and being there during your bad times too

13.  Leonardo Da Vinci for showing us that we're all multi talented geniuses 

14. The BBC comedy writers for finally revealing that Leonardo Da Vinci wasn't Italian - but was in fact Indian

15. Your kids for giving you a reason to keep going on your bad days

16. Louise Fletcher for setting up this site so that you can enjoy free career advice 24/7

17. Pam Slim for showing you how to escape the cubicle and become an entrepreneur 

18. Gary Vaynerchuk for showing you why NOW really is the time to cash in on your passion and 'Crush It' 

19.  Your mentors and coaches for helping you stand out from crowd and create opportunities

20.  Your financial advisor / accountant for helping you navigate through the financial crisis 

21.  You. Because it all starts with you. Acknowledging your own efforts and contribution regularly puts you the right state to see and appreciate everything else...

By Sital Ruparelia

P.S. Thank you to the writers and readers on Career Hub for your ideas, resources and comments. 

Whilst we don't celebrate thanksgiving here in the UK, I'm thankful for your support and wish you a very happy thanksgiving weekend!

Where will you be when the music stops?

Looking for work is a little like the game of musical chairs. Around and around we go, and when the music stops, everyone rushes to grab an empty chair and someone - not prepared to make the move quickly enough - is left standing.

According to a recent Workforce Management article, "60% of employees intend to leave their firms as the economy improves next year and an additional 27 % are networking or have updated their résumés." The article went on to say that another study found that "more than 90 % of executives would take an executive recruiter’s call and more than 50 % are looking for a new job."

Although the focus of the article was on employee discontent and the need for employers to take a hard look at employee engagement and retention, it had me wondering what this means for anyone currently in the market for a new job.

If the statistics are correct, than the music is already playing in the minds of a lot of current employees. It is imperative that you be ready to make your move when the music stops. Keep your resume up to date. Look for opportunities, not openings. Build and nurture your network. Remember, it is not what you know, but who you know - and who knows what you know!

Make sure that the right people know you and know what you know. Develop a target list of employers; do your research; market your skills and talents; network your way to the hiring managers and make sure they know you are "in the game" and eager to fill one of those empty chairs.

When the music stops, make sure you already have dibs on the seat you intend to fill!

Social Media and Your Career: 6 Things You Need To Know

Are you confused about the plethora of social media platforms?

Are you unsure about what you should (or shouldn’t) be doing in the online world of blogs, forums, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook etc..?

Question what you need to know and what you don’t?

Wandering how you can effect your career by the click of a mouse?

Ok, here is everything you need to know in 20 seconds:

Social Media 101

“Earn a reputation. Have a conversation. Ask questions. Describe possible outcomes of a point of view. Make connections.

Give the other person the benefit of the doubt. Align objectives then describe a better outcome.

Show up. Smile.”

This simple wisdom comes from marketing author and speaker Seth Godin in his recent post titled “How To Lose An Arguement Online.”

I’m no social media ‘expert’ and don't know much about technology, but I do know that social media is here to stay - it isn’t some fad. It’s not just something for “the youngsters” to chat and play on. Online communities will play a huge impact on the businesses of the future - and so, in turn on our careers. Just look at the stats showing the dramatic falls in the power and influence of  traditional media and growth of online video, online communities and the like.

Like it or not, social media will play a big part in your future career by building (or destroying) your personal brand. So embrace it.

But to embrace it, you don’t have to know all the ins and outs of all the technology. You just need to follow the basic principles of being human. Of being real.

The only 6 things you need to know are:

1. Be Respectful

2. Be Transparent

3. Be of Value

4. Be Nice

5. Be a Connector

6. Be Different (by being your true self)

The technology and media platforms will evolve and adapt - but these 6 points will always apply. So keep this list close by you.

The tools, tricks and “how to’s” you can learn as you go (or get others to show you). But as Seth points out, if you’re not exhibiting these basic human attributes consistently, you won’t succeed. In fact, you’ll do quite the opposite and damage your personal brand and your career prospects with the click of a mouse

By Sital Ruparelia

Job Seekers: Come Monday, It'll Be Alright

Out and about over the weekend, I saw a sign in a store that said:

Everyone's home for the holidays -- I'll be in therapy on Monday!

I chuckled to myself and thought yep, pretty much. Seriously, if you're a job seeker, do you find the holidays stress-free or stressful? You know, when Grandma asks "don't you have a job yet, Missie?" or when Uncle Harold chimes in "You know, son, you better take what you can get in this economy" or how your third cousin twice removed tells you about her three-week getaway to Somewhere and "oh, you must come by and see our new..."

Stress. What is stress, anyway?

According to Merriam-Webster, one definition of stress is: d: a state resulting from a stress: especially: one of bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium...

In graduate school, I recall studying Hans Selye and the discovery of stress. I also remember learning about types of stress, specifically distress and eustress and how stress can be "good" or "bad." As a job seeker, what strategies do you employ to manage stress of either variety during the holiday season? Listed below are a few coping strategies to help with the "dis" side of stress:

1. Come up with the line you feel comfortable in sharing when well-intentioned people ask about your job search. If you're struggling with what to say, here's an idea to help you...just fill in the blanks to suit your situation:

"Thanks for asking, Aunt Mable, about my job search...please keep me in mind if you hear of opportunities in the financial services industry where experience in project management, customer support and team leadership contribute to improved employee productivity and client retention." (Aunt Mable may not have a lead for you, but at least you sound like you have your act together - sort of)

2. Exercise. Take walks. Work out. If you don't belong to a health or fitness club right now, concrete works! Hit the pavement. Walk off the stress if your knees, back, hips and ankles are up to it. It will help your head and you might drop a couple of extra pounds and look better for the interview.

3. When someone engages you in conversation about how bad this is, how terrible that is and how things are getting worse, not better, why not mention something positive and steer your chat in another direction. As my daughter says...I'm just sayin.

4. Watch funny movies. Check them out at your local library if you're a member. It won't change the fact that you don't have a job, but it could be a welcome relief to hear yourself laugh!

5. Read a book about job search -- ask guests at the holiday gathering for their ideas and recommendations.

6. Browse the Internet for interesting blog posts on how to survive the holidays while looking for a job.

7. Volunteer in your local community. Check out volunteer organizations online. Ask around -- who needs a helping hand, especially during the holidays? (Volunteering is a wonderful way to share your gifts and talents and the person you meet volunteering today could well be the person who's hiring you tomorrow.)

8. Make holiday gifts instead of buying them. You don't have to spend a lot of money to give a priceless gift. For example, at Mother's Day this year, I advised each of our children that the only thing I'd like from them, if they chose to give me a gift, was "Lessons from Mom" in their handwriting. Both daughters offered beautiful written pieces that I love to hold, read and re-read. Our son didn't have time to write anything (he got a pass - he's in law school) but on that special day, he told me, in person, "Five Things I've Learned From You, Mom."

9. Bake something this holiday season and share it! I really don't enjoy cooking, but I love to bake, especially for the holidays. Remember the scene in Grey's Anatomy when Izzy baked and baked muffins to relieve stress?

10. Call, email, text or DM someone in your circle this holiday season..."Just wanted to say hey (hello / hi) and to thank you for being my friend"...

Wishing you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for reading Career Hub!

"Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one." ~ Hans Selye

cross-posted at billiesucherblog

4 Strategies For Securing Interviews When You Haven’t The Relevent Experience

“Sital, I’m applying for roles but employers are being so fussy in the current market - if I haven’t the exact experience they’re looking for, they reject me. Doing the same thing over and over again with the same rejections over and over again is so frustrating. What else can I do?”

“Sital, I’m trying to make a career change into a new area but can’t  secure interviews. I know I have the relevant skills and would do a great job, but they keep rejecting me because I’ve not got the experience. But how can I get the experience if they don’t give me a chance?!! Any ideas on a better approach?”

“Sital, I’m tring to make a change internally to a new function, but they won’t consider me because I haven’t the experience. But I know I’ve got the skills and would be much better than the people currently in those roles! What should I do?” 

 

Here’s what you should do;  follow these four strategies:

 1. Focus on results and achievements

 

If you’re trying to make a career change or shift into a new area, your resume/CV and the whole way you market yourself should be much more focused on what you can deliver and the benefits of your talents rather than your experience.

 

That means your ability to make an impact on commercial outcomes: sales, improvements in service levels, compliance and risk, employee engagement and retention, cost savings and time savings.

 

You can’t compete on experience so compete on results and the value add.

 

2. Focus on transferable skills

 

I made my first career change 10 years ago. I left the UK retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) to join a City recruitment consultancy specialising in financial services whilst having no track record in the same field. I had little experience of direct sales (which is a large part of a recruiter’s job) and didn’t really understand how financial services operated. So I did my research and identified the key skills needed to be a recruiter, and then ensured that my CV/resume showcased those skills from my M&S background.

And that’s exactly what you need to do if you haven’t the exact experience for a particular role. Focus on the transferable, portable skills and how they apply to the roles you’re applying for.

3. Focus on your values, attitude and personality

 

When I consult and advise organisations on recruiting the right talent, I urge them to focus their selection decisions on finding people with the right attitude, values and personality to fit into their teams rather than someone with the exact experience.  

 

Why? Because the success of a new recruit is based so much on the cultural fit into the team and organisation. If they don’t fit in, they won’t be effective or successful - regardless of how relevant their experience is.

 

So use that to your advantage by turning up the volume on you and your individual style rather than your experience.

 

“but how do you do that if you can’t get in to speak to them?”

 

You go by referral:

 

4. Go by referral  

 

If you’re trying to make a change into a new area and you’re spending all your time applying for jobs online or just applying to recruiters - you’re in for plenty of set-backs. Similarly, if you’re applying to internal roles just through the official application process and HR, then you’re likely to face more set-backs.

 

But when you get introduced by a contact, their relationship and their ability to sell points 1-3 above on your behalf can really help to get you into the interview room. For internal moves new areas, a strong informal relationship with decision makers in that new area is critical to securing interviews and roles. 

 

Alternatively, get a good recruiter/head hunter who knows you well to sell the benefits of 1-3 and convince their client to meet with you. When I made my move from M&S into recruitment, I was fortunate to have a fantastic recruitment-to-recruitment firm (who find jobs for recruiters) who found potential roles for me and convinced their clients that I was worth meeting.

 

But even then, I came into contact with this firm via a referral from one of their biggest clients. So, as you can see going by referral is the very best way to secure interviews.

 

Einstein once famously defined insanity as “…doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

 

If you’re going insane from hitting the same brick wall of rejection, maybe it’s time to change your strategy. These 4 strategies above would be a good start.

By Sital Ruparelia

How To Thrive During A Recovery By Investing In Yourself

With a 6 month stock market rally and many economies around the world starting to turn the corner, many forward-thinking organisations are gearing themselves up to take advantage of the recovery - even if it turns out to be a somewhat shaky path. 

 

If you study the history of previous downturns and recoveries, you'll see that it's these organisations who thrive during an upturn and not the ones who are insistently focused on cost-cutting into a recovery.  The ones that thrive are the ones that invest in their business, their people and their products / services so as to grow the top line instead of trying to further squeeze the bottom line. 

 

But in the modern work-place we are all now self-employed freelancers (even if you have a 'permanent' contract of employment) and consequently must think like a business looking to rebound.  

So whilst others will be trying to "sit tight" - as a forward thinking CEO of You Inc, your focus in the coming weeks and months should be to invest in YOU because those that invest early get the early advantage through a recovery. Plus the fact that you're the safest asset class in your investment portfolio with the very best ROI over the long term. 

 

'You' also come with a level of risk that can be managed much more easily. So regardless of whether there is a fast rebound or a "double-dip" recession and recovery, if you invest in yourself now, you have the best chance of succeeding. 

 

Here are some ways that smart professionals should be investing in themselves: 

 

1. Invest in your development 

 

In today's world if you stop learning and growing you get left behind very quickly. But whereas the time and cost of self-development may have been a constraint in the past, that no longer applies. You can do courses at weekends from the comfort of your own home because audio, video and technology have revolutionised how we learn. 

 

Plus the web has made so much learning free (or nearly free). So whatever area you need to develop in, I bet there are articles, blogs, e-books, teleclasses, virtual conferences and webinars to meet your needs and budget. 

 

So you've no excuse not to invest in yourself and maximize the chances of you thriving in the coming months. 

 

2. Invest in your network 

 

Whilst it's very easy to focus on the 'day job' or your own problems, be sure to invest time consistently in your network: it will pay benefits over time. You'll enjoy deeper professional relationships, attract more opportunities, more resources and more help. 

 

Just remember that the currency of networking is generosity; the more you help your network without an agenda, the stronger the network becomes. So help them, listen to them, spend time with them, connect with them, make them look good, refer business and opportunities to them. And all without having any agenda or wanting anything back. 

 

It's a marathon, not a sprint - so keep investing slowly but surely. 

 

3. Invest in a coach or mentor  

 

Over the last 5 years I've invested considerable time and money in order to work with two of the very best business coaches/mentors in my field. 

 

Over the last 15 years I've had several peers and senior leaders acting as mentors for me. Whilst they required no financial investment they did require an investment of time and effort. 

 

Looking back, it's the best investment I've ever made. They've been a catalyst in changing so many things professionally and personally that I've got multiple rates of return on my investment. And like any good investment, I'm still enjoying the benefits months and years later. 

 

How about you? Who is challenging you and stretching you to achieve different results? Who is providing expert guidance, advice and accountability to keep you focused? 

 

4. Invest in a strong board of advisors 

 

Now more than ever before, you are not an employee of XYZ Company, but the CEO of You Inc.  

 

And like any good CEO, you need a strong board to support you. So invest now to ensure you have the right peer group and informal board of advisors for you to lean on and seek advice and counsel for career and work-related matters in what will be a very different working environment. Your inner circle of support can include ex-colleagues, peers, professional contacts, friends and family members. 

 

5. Invest in your health and well being

 

If I wote this 3-4 years ago, I would never have thought about emphasising the importance of your health and well being in a career related article. But from personal experience, I know that eating healthily, excercising regularly, sleeping well and having a strategy to manage my stress levels has a huge impact on how I feel and in turn how I perform in my professional life. 

 

That's because our sense of well being has a direct impact on our mood, confidence and drive to achieve the results we want in the work place.  

 

So let me ask you, are your current health and fitness habits aiding your career goals or are they a hindrence? What is the one thing you can start changing right now so as to help you thrive in the coming months?

 

I'm no economist and not much of a financial advisor either, so I'm unable to predict how quickly the economy will recover in the coming months. Nor can I advise on which asset class will perform best in the coming months. But one thing I do know is that when you invest in yourself, you have a far greater chance of predicting the future than if you don't. 

 

So start investing in you NOW before the recovery is in full swing and you'll be ahead of the pack. And if there is a further downturn and indeed a "W-Shaped" decline and recovery, you'll be in a far stronger place to ride the next economic storm. 

By Sital Ruparelia

Enduring Truths for Careers and Job Search

The University of Wisconsin has had many distinguished alumni and faculty who have been known to produce noteworthy quotes. The Winter 2009 On Wisconsin magazine cites many of these remarkable quotes in “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” Yes, that phrase was uttered by a UW alum, Jim Lovell in 1970.

As I read through the quotes, some of them struck me as enduring truths relevant to our tough economic times and our careers and job search. Here are a few to consider:

1. “What is most personal is most general…The very feeling which has seemed to me most private, most personal, and hence most incomprehensible by others, has turned out to be an expression for which there is a resonance in many other people.” – Carl Rogers (psychologist) in On Becoming a Person (1961).

Jason Alba of JibberJobber has often written about his career transformation into an entrepreneur after he was laid off from an IT Manager job. Most important, he has shared his private emotions which ran the full gamut from disbelief, anger, and despair to a sense of fulfillment and joy with his new career. His most emotional blog posts seemed to generate the most comments – people saying they felt the same way! In "Evolution", Jason relates how his career has taken a different path than he had imagined or planned for. He asks some really important and timeless questions for you to ponder and answer for yourself.

Similarly, Kris Parfitt of Career Leadership Coaching, relates her feelings about being laid off last month and the “cracks” in her contentment that she had been experiencing for years. In “It’s About Time You Answered Your Calling” she confesses her doubts and fears, but also her hopes, dreams, and commitment to her calling in coaching. She asks, “Do you have ‘cracks in your contentment”?

2. “It is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.” – Abraham Maslow (psychologist) in The Psychology of Science: A Reconnaissance (1966).

The majority of job seekers I encounter seem to believe that the volume of resumes dispersed in their job search is all that matters. So they diligently shoot their resume out there into the “black hole” of cyberspace in response to job postings and wait to hear back. And wait, and wait. They are acting as if the only tool (hammer) they have at their disposal is a resume, and consequently every job posting they see becomes the “nail”.

Richard Bolles, of What Color Is Your Parachute? fame, talks about “Landing a job in this tough economy” in a recent interview. He mentions that there are at least 16 strategies (tools) a job seeker can use!

Andy Klee writes “How to Find a Job in Any Economy” in the Career Rocketeer blog. He promotes a different approach (toolset) to job search that he successfully used 20 years ago. His four-step method bears contains many nuggets of common sense that still apply to today’s job search.

Optimizing your online and offline self-marketing documents, such as your resume, cover letters, bios, social networking profiles, blogs, onine portfolios, and websites with keywords and phrases is a modern-day tool that is no longer optional for a successful job search. The effectiveness with which you can get noticed by potential employers and recruiters and pull them toward you, rather than having to push a resume at them, can make all the difference in how quickly you land interviews. "The Power of Keywords in Your Social Networking Profiles and Online Resumes" by Marci Reynolds gives you the rationale and best practices for revamping your online tools.

3. “Never think you’ve seen the last of anything.” – Eudora Welty (writer) in The Optimist’s Daughter (1969).

Rather than seeing “the glass half empty”, let’s focus on “the glass half full”. The power of a positive attitude and the ability to experience happiness in our every day activities and relationships are often undervalued. For those who are unemployed, it might feel like happiness and “good times” are gone forever. But a positive outlook and the capacity to feel joy and happiness, even in mundane moments, are precisely what can make your job search, your career, and your life a more meaningful journey.

Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project shares “the days are long, but the years are short” in “In Which I Get Teary Reading My Own Book”. Her Twelve Personal Commandments and Four Splendid Truths related to happiness are enduring thoughts to live by in your career and life.

Finally, there are “The Top 20 Things Oprah Knows for Sure”, an interesting and revealing assortment of her quotes about happiness, life, choices, and trust among many others. I remember when Oprah started out as a shy, tongue-tied, and somewhat unattractive Weather Girl on a local Baltimore (MD) TV channel. I lived in Baltimore at the time and watched that TV station. I remember thinking, “Now there is someone who is not going to make it in show business”. All these years later, I watch her on The Oprah Show and realize just when you think you have seen the last of something (or in this case someone), life will prove you wrong!

Cross-posted at Career Goddess Blog

Are You Going To Cash In Your Ticket?

"You're sitting on a winning lottery ticket - but you're too big a pussy to cash it in." 

Apologies for the slightly course language, but this is a direct quote from one of my favourite films – 'Goodwill Hunting' staring Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck and Minnie Driver.

Matt Damon is cast as Will, a janitor working in a university whilst living on his own in a sparse apartment. But he's also a genius with an amazing gift. He has a brilliant ability for solving highly complex mathematical problems. Complex algebra which he effortlessly solves whilst many of the undergraduates and even the university professor struggle to solve. 

Having found out about his gift, the professor tries to mentor him with the help of a psychologist (Robin Williams). And eventually line up a series of interviews for a host of impressive jobs so that Will can utilize his talents.  

But regardless of the help and opportunities laid before him, Will throws it back in their face. He's content to stay where he is within his comfort zone - same job, same apartment, same friends. 

That is until his best friend Chuckie (Ben Affleck) shows him some tough love one day with some straight talking:

"You're sitting on a winning lottery ticket - but you're too big a pussy to cash it in.......I'd do anything to have what you've got - so would any of these guys here.....it would be an insult to us if you're still here in 20 years (doing the exact same thing)."

What a great friend is he?!!

And how true is that statement of many people...? 

As I've said before (here and here), we've all got genius talent buried within us. We've all got our very own lottery tickets waiting to be cashed in. Some people are on a journey to discover what that talent it is, whilst others have already found it. But just like Will in the film, they find themselves holding back from cashing it in.

Whilst it's much easier to accept the status quo and stay where you are, accepting your talents and, indeed, turning up the volume on those talents is a lot more scarier than it sounds.  

But sooner or later there will be a catalyst that forces you to take action and cash it in. Maybe it's a friend like Chuckie, maybe your personal or professional circumstances change or maybe you watch or read something like this blog post that makes you take action.  

Whatever the catalyst is for you, just remember; every successful person in history has accepted their brilliance instead of being embarassed by it. So although your career may at times seem like a lottery, when your numbers do come up and you discover that talent, instead of holding back, cash it in.

If you'd like to see the 2 minute clip from Goodwill Hunting I'm referring to, please click here or watch it below.

(Warning: there's quite a lot swearing in the clip - so if you're sitting near children or easily offended, please do not click the link)

By Sital Ruparelia

Resumes: The Big Mistake Everyone’s Making

Whether you’re trying to secure a new job, new consulting project or contract work, there are two chief ways you differentiate yourself from your competitors. 

You do it by showcasing:

a) The results you deliver and

b) The unique way in which you deliver those results (your style, approach, attitude, values, etc)

As a potential employer, I don’t really get an opportunity to assess number 2 until we meet and I get to know you better (…unless you’ve been introduced through a referral who speaks highly of you - which should always be the preferred approach where possible).

So if you’re trying to secure an interview with me and stand out from the crowd of other applicants, you need to be telling me all about number 1 - the results you can deliver and the ways you can help me and my firm.

So instead of being a history of your professional life, your CV/resume needs to showcase the results you’ve delivered to date and the value you’ve created for your employers. Tangible, measureable, commercial outcomes that you’ve a track record of delivering. With percentages, $$$/£££ values, KPIs and other ’soft’ measures that are credible demonstration of your success to date.

And that’s the big mistake most people make.

Their CV/resume usually reads like an orbituary - a summary of every role, responsibility, education, training, hobbies, favourite holiday destinations, their preferred dessert etc…..

Okay, I labour the point - but you get my drift I hope.

If you want to stand out, then your CV or resume must be heavily focussed on showcasing the problems you’ve solved, the results you’ve delivered and benefits you’re previous employers have accrued from your services.

So don’t get hung up on finding the ideal layout, font, key words, length, style and all those things that many people over think when resume writing. Instead I suggest you focus on one big thing: make it much more about  what you’ve delivered and much less about everything single thing you’ve done to date.

When you do it in a way that is tailored to the needs of a specific role and the needs of a potential employer (or range of employers if writing to recruiters) you start avoiding the mistake which I see so many job seekers make and maximise the chances of you securing an interview.

“But what about my experience and education?” you may ask.

Your experience and education aren’t really true differentiators because there will always be someone with similar work experience and qualifications (especially in the current job market). And most of the time there will usually be someone with much more relevant experience and a far better education than you. That’s life.

Of course you need to include ample attention to your experience, but differentiate yourself based on the results you have delivered and you’ll have a far better chance of having your CV/resume stand out and so securing interviews.

By Sital Ruparelia

What’s Your Unique Talent?

Unique Talent = Natural Abilities + Your Unique Way Of Expressing Those Abilities

Your Natural Abilities

■ What’s *that thing you do* which you’re so naturally talented at?
■ What’s the work you’ve done effortlessly ever since you can remember?
■ What’s the work or activities that energise you (rather than tire you) after you’ve completed them?
■ What types of problems would your friends, colleagues and family pay you to fix out of their own pockets?
■ What do you do when no one is looking?
■ What type of tasks and activities make you completely lose track of time?
■ What would you write about if I forced you to start sharing your expertise in a series of blog articles?
■ What would you speak about if I forced you to give a 15 minute talk on a topic you felt confident speaking about?
■ What  would you do with your time if you inherited £20million and were told you only had 10 years left to live? 

Your Unique Way Of Expressing Those Abilities

■ What’s unique about the way you express those abilities?

■ What are your key ‘weaknesses’ that are actually unique strengths in disguise?

■ What are the things that make you stand out when you’re with your peers? (positive or negative)

■ What’s the most quirkiest thing about you?

■ What do your friends and colleagues often mock you about?

It’s In Your DNA

We’ve all got a unique talent - a natural ability that only we can express in a totally unique way.  Just like your DNA, no one in history has ever had that combination.

Which is why:

- No one can write, sing and perform in the exact same way as Michael Jackson.

- No one can bend a football kick or become a fashion icon in the exact same way as David Beckham. 

- No one can be a catalyst for compassion and change in the exact same way  as Mother Theresa.  

And the reason why no one can do *that thing you do* in quite the same way you do it. Your own unique talent is in-built - it’s part of your DNA.

Your Challenge

Your task then is to figure out what that unique talent is and then find people, organisations or a cause that can benefit from that talent.

Once you do that on a consistent basis, you’ll be able to build a powerful personal brand, attract success, wealth, job satisfaction and create a sense of meaning from your professional life that most people spend years searching for. It’s the holy grail.

But it doesn’t happened overnight.

Like everything, it starts with a first step. That first step is to start looking for clues about yourself and your unique talent by asking some tough questions of yourself.

I challenge you to take the first step…

By Sital Ruparelia

Why Cover Letters Are Overrated

Here’s a conversation and some lively banter between me and a friend, a professional resume/CV writer. We were chatting about my (yawn) not so favourite subject - cover letters:

Sital: “Job seekers who spend tonnes of time and effort on cover letters are simply wasting their time.“

Sarah: “I completely disagree. The cover letter is a vital tool to help candidates get a consistent message out there and leverage their personal brand.”

Sital: “Yeh yeh, stop trying to blind me with your fancy marketing language Sarah!

Is the cover letter necessary? 

- Yes, most firms and recruiters expect a covering email or letter. 

Does it have a critical part in ensuring your resume/CV get’s read? 

- I don’t think so.

Sarah: “You don’t think so hey clever clogs?! So what’s that based on hey?”

Sital: “It’s based on being in the field and seeing the whole recruitment process from the ‘coal face’ rather than just offering career advice from the sidelines.

As a hiring manager, recruitment consultant as well as a recruitment manager within corporate firms – I paid little attention to cover letters apart from a quick glance. And it wasn't just me, people around me have similarly focussed on the resumer/CV. 

Sarah: “Well I should show you the glowing testimonials from my clients who have finally secured interviews and found jobs after we’d polished up a great cover letter”

Sital: “I don’t question that having a strong cover letter gives you a better chance than a weaker one – of course it does. What I’m suggesting is that candidates should focus on having a short, functional cover letter that is good enough (rather than perfect). They should concentrate their time and energy on ‘getting out there’ instead of spending hours tweaking  a cover note."

Sarah: “Well I think we’ll agree to disagree shall we!”

It’s All About Priorities

I don’t think I was in total disagreement with Sarah  - I agree that a crisply written, tailored cover letter does give you a better chance than your average cover letter.  But it’s all about priorities.  

Rather than tinker with a cover letter for a couple of hours, I prefer my clients to be out meeting new people and reconnecting with existing contacts.  Rather than trying to be overly perfectionist about the ‘message’ and ‘brand statement’ on a cover letter, I’d prefer them be speaking to people and testing out their marketing message in a live environment.

Like any message, the refinement and improvements come ‘in the field’ by seeing other people’s reaction to you and your message. You can’t do that if you’re sitting in front of your laptop for half the day trying to develop the perfect cover letter.

But hey, that’s just my opinion based on my experiences to date. So what do you think – are cover letters overrated..? 

By Sital Ruparelia

Tough Questions from 2009 Job Seekers

If you have been reading my posts here on Career Hub since I started contributing three-plus years ago, you know that I make lists of random stuff. Throughout 2009, I have been asked some tough questions by job seekers...most of them questions I haven't been asked in prior years. As 2009 draws to a close, I thought I would post a few of these FAQ's from job seekers:

1. Where can I find a job?

2. How long will it take me to find a job?

3. When will some new jobs be created?

4. How can I stand out when 200 or 300 people are applying for the same job?

5. How will I pay my insurance, house/car payment when I don't have a job?

6. Is anyone listening to today's job seeker besides people like you who are getting paid for it?

7. Does anyone really care that there are millions of people who don't have a job?

8. When will things get back to normal?

9. I need help but I don't have money to pay you...what should I do?

If you follow my posts, you know that I'm a very upbeat, optimistic, always-looking-on-the-bright-side-no-matter-what-sort of person. That said, these are simply real questions from real people who really want to get back to work. They're of all ages, all backgrounds, educated, smart, capable, and talented people asking tough questions in 2009.

cross-posted at billiesucherblog

Job Boards, Scams and Reality Checks

Whenever unemployment rates are high, unscrupulous businesses and individuals find ways to prey on job seekers and profit from their misfortune. With unemployment rates now hovering above 10%, the one industry that continues to grow and remain strong is the “employment scams” industry. There are websites that will make up a work history for you to include on your résumé; websites that will issue fake degrees; and websites that will provide job seekers with bogus references.

Then there are the more innocuous sites whose names are somewhat more familiar. They boast thousands of job openings and employers and offer “members” an inside lead to the “hidden job market” in exchange for a monthly fee. They offer free résumé critiques and will gladly rewrite every résumé to anyone willing to provide them with a viable credit card number.

I subscribe to several association e-lists, where members post a daily exchange of information of benefit to members and their clients. Lately there has been a lot of chatter about the free résumé critiques offered by a couple of somewhat well known job boards.  Apparently the “cookie cutter critiques” are “scaring” a lot of job seekers into paying one of their “ghost writers” to overhaul their résumé – no questions asked!

I am not sending this post to bad-mouth any of these so called “competitors;” simply typing the company name into a search engine text box, along with the words “scam” or “rip off” will tell the rest of the story. I am sending this post because I wanted to tell you about a site I recently located that I think is worth passing along.

Job Board Reviews is an online job board directory that not only links job seekers to thousands of job boards, but provides user reviews and rankings. The Job Board Directory has a search feature where visitors can type in the name of a job board and be taken to a description of the job board, including who owns it, along with their contact information, employer stats, job seeker stats and reviews. The directory also is set up by categories to equip visitors with the ability to locate job boards by business function, career level, industry, and region (to name a few).

The site also features a free online “community” somewhat like LinkedIn and Facebook, career-  and job search-related articles, and blogs. The community is still fairly small and the articles and blog post contents are just beginning to grow. But the job board directory is one of the best I have come across and the few reviews that I read seem to mirror what I have experienced as well as what I am hearing from clients and colleagues – both positive and negative.

It’s worth checking out and bookmarking. And if you have no need to use it now, please do a family member, friend or colleague a favor, and pass it on!

Unemployment Numbers Not Being Tracked

Last Friday, the Department of Labor issued its monthly jobs report for October and reported that unemployment rose from 9.8% to 10.2%, the highest since 1983. If taken into account the number of people who have given up looking for work or who want full-time work, but have settled for part-time work, the unemployment rate is 17.5%. Other statistics report that 5.6 million Americans have been out of work longer than six months.

When I heard this report, the words “given up looking for work” really struck me, as did the notion of someone looking for work “longer than six months.” I know there are a lot of reasons people remain unemployed and that many of these reasons are tied to the state of the economy. Yet, I can’t help wondering what else may be contributing to some job seekers’ inability to land a job.

I hear a lot of job search scenarios when I talk with potential clients and see a lot of self-defeating behaviors. Sometimes I shake my head and think to myself “It is no wonder he/she is having such a difficult time landing a job.” There is probably no way to gather statistics on how many job seekers are “shooting themselves in the foot,” but if there were, here are some things one might track:

The number of job seekers who…

Are still using job search tools and techniques that may have worked for them in the 80’s but have long since become obsolete

Decide to “ride out” their 26 weeks of unemployment before beginning the search

Have no clear career goal and can not articulate their skills, accomplishments and value

Are “willing to take anything”

Have a résumé that reads like an obituary of their career

Send a résumé/cover letter that is difficult to read, contains spelling grammatical and typing errors, or has no clear focus

Think networking is asking everyone they know who might be hiring

Post their résumé on all of the major job boards and then sit back and wait for a phone call

Have no concept of what an ASCII résumé is or when/how to use it

Spend all their time online looking for openings as opposed to getting out of the house and talking with other professionals about opportunities

Are angry or depressed about their recent job loss and clearly communicate this to anyone who will listen

Never follow-up after submitting a résumé

Then there are those who make it to the interview, and…

Have not researched the company and no nothing about the company’s products, services, mission, goals and customers

Are unable to articulate their skills, accomplishments and value

Viewthe employer as a solution to their problems, instead of selling themselves as a problem solver

Bad mouth their previous employer

Have not prepared answers to behavioral questions and are unable to handle sensitive questions

Can not provide solid references and/or have not briefed their references with information about their job search

Fail to ask for the job, determine the next step in the process, send a thank-note or follow-up after the interview

It’s tragic that anyone should loose their job through no fault of their own or spend months looking for a new job. I see plenty of job seekers who are doing all the right things and do not deserve this fate. But, I also see plenty of job seekers that are casting their own fate and fail to see it.

Just Slip Out the Back, Jack

You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free ~ Paul Simon

If you have ever lost a job, you may recall that day, that moment, that hour with great clarity. My termination happened on a pretty, warm sunny morning in July...a lot of days and years ago. I remember the day so well. I remember the shoes I was wearing. I remember the outfit I had worn to work that day. I was driving an old red VW bug at the time ~ the guy who fired me called it a "hippie car" or sometimes, he would refer to my vehicle as a "dinky."

Upon my employment demise with him, he instructed me to get in my "dinky" and get out of his office. (I got fired for a pretty lame reason, now that I look back. I worked for the president of a company....most days he told me I was the best executive assistant he'd ever employed in 50 years...and then, there was the day, I "crossed the line." He gave me a nickle per hour raise...it upset me. I went to the "Personnel" Manager (currently known as HR) and said I would like a dime instead of a nickel. The next morning, I knew I was done and toast and over and history when I heard the buzzer. I just knew it. When my boss wanted me to come into his office, he would push a buzzer that would sound at my desk. Hey, I had studied psychology and I was very aware of Pavlov and the dog tricks!) And that July morning so many years ago, I heard the buzzer for one last time.

There are many ways to find out you no longer have employment and that your "services are no longer needed." These are a few of the ways that my clients (or prospects) have told me they have lost their job ~ times have changed, indeed:

* My Regional Manager texted me and said that my position was being eliminated...

* My boss emailed me while I was on vacation....the subject line read "Urgent Message"...

* My supervisor left me a voice message indicating changes were being made...

* My manager sent me an overnight express letter announcing my release from the organization...

* My boss let me go the day he took me out for lunch to discuss my annual performance review...

There is no good time to lose your job. There is no perfect way to be told this information. All I know is that I am pretty sure and certain I would not be sitting here at this laptop writing you this blog post had I not been fired those many years ago. There is life after job loss; I started over...you can, too...you just keep telling yourself that, until...

"It is never too late to be what you might have been." ~ George Eliot

cross-posted at billiesucherblog

4 Steps To Make Your Networking Effortless

I Hate...

• I hate formal 'networking events.' The ones where you have to 'work a room.'

• I hate 'networking breaks' at seminars and conferences where you have people madly collecting business cards and staring over your shoulder (instead of looking and listening to you) to see who else they can exchange business cards with after they've finished with you.

• I  hate breakfast networking events - I'm a night owl and so prefer to avoid early morning appointments and events wherever possible.

• I hate blogs where the people taking part in conversations are simply there to self promote: comments such as "Hey great article! By the way, your readers should take a look at my 6 part course on xyz - follow this link now!" (I never ever click on those links).

• I hate networking with anyone that doesn't say 'thank you.' Good manners cost nothing. Bad manners tell me lots about the other person. 

• And don't ask me why, but I don't really like Facebook - it's just not my thing.

I Love..

• I love hanging out in coffee shops and hotel lounges with nice sofas to catch up with friends and professional contacts.

• I love going for drinks in cool bars where you can actually hear yourself speak - especially if they've got nice sofas (..as you can see, it's all about the sofas for me!).

• I love pinging an email or a LinkedIn note to introduce two people in my network who I think may be able to help each other. Not because I want a 'kick back' or a favour; but because I enjoy connecting people. And as a by product of this, I strengthen my relationship with them

• I love sitting in the lounge at my local gym (on a comfy sofa off course) with my Blackberry and emailing or calling people I haven't spoken to for a while just to say "hey, long time no speak - how are things?" 

• I love catching up with old friends over an informal dinner

• I love LinkedIn - not sure why, but I feel more at home there than on Facebook

• I love blogs where there is an exchanging of ideas, resources, opinions and debate in the comments sections. A genuine desire to add to the content/discussion rather than it being all about self gain and self promotion.

• I think I'll eventually get to love Twitter - I just need to spend more time there

Networking With Authenticity Is Effortless

I find networking effortless because I choose those networking activities that play to my strengths and natural style. So instead of it being a chore - it's fun. Anything that is fun is effortless. And any activity that is effortless, is more likely to yield the results you want.

I mean, who says networking "should" involve going to fancy 'networking events' and 'working a room?' That's just one version.

Networking is all about establishing and developing genuine relationships - you can't build genuine relationships if you feel really uncomfortable and a bit of a fraud. So network in a way that feels natural and authentic to you and you'll build deeper relationships and be better placed to attract the kind of results you want.

How To Network Effortlessly

1. Choose the networking activities you love

Those networking activities (or relationship building activities), that you really enjoy. The ones that come naturally to you and have always come naturally to you.

2. Avoid networking acitivities which you hate 

Activities which don't suit your style and make you think "that's just not me."

3. Be honest with yourself

There's a big difference between activities which are not your natural style - and activities which you're scared to try out because they are outside your comfort zone.

So yes, play to strengths - but please don't use this article as an excuse to avoid testing your comfort zone!

4. Keep a close eye on these 21 networking tips 

By Sital Ruparelia

 

Could Technology Be Derailing Careers?

Is anyone else beginning to feel like they are always chasing after the train, only to discover when they finally catch up they were on the wrong track? Yes, I’m of the “Boomer Generation;” I attended a three-room school house and our family phone was on a five-party line; however I have been pretty smitten with all I have taught this “old dog” and how well I have embraced technology – until recently.

 

I learned how to communicate via email; bought and began using a cell phone; learned to surf the Internet, and I swear it was just yesterday that I was teaching a Windows 3.1 workshop to a class full of recently displaced professionals. Now I am balking at upgrading to Windows 7 and asking clients to please stop sending me .docx files! 

 

I created a LinkedIn Profile and people kept asking me if I was on Facebook!  I learned how to send a simple text message to my kids to let them know my flight was on time or I’d be home soon, and now everybody is on Twitter and I don’t know how to “tweet.” I figured out how to find a video on YouTube and suddenly out-of-town family members are insisting I communicate with them via Skype. Is there no end to this madness?!

 

A recent post on the Recruiting Trends blog by Carmen Hudson, CEO of Tweetajob, Inc. entitled “Warning: Disruptive Technology Ahead” drove it all home for anyone currently looking for work. After reading her post, my first thought was this: “What ARE we doing?!?”

 

Yesterday I wrote a résumé for a school bus driver who was barely computer literate but needed an ASCII résumé so she could apply online. Two weeks ago I had a similar situation with a mechanic who worked on fire engines. Monday a registered nurse called me all in a panic because she had an interview scheduled in an hour and she did not know how to use MS Word so she could type up a résumé. (I gave her a quick confidence boost by reminding her that she already landed the interview and suggesting she tell the employer that she may not know how to use Word, but she is a master at providing quality patient care.) These are not rare situations; I see this with about 50% of my clients.

 

We are connected 24/7, but may be starving from lack of human interaction. If given the choice between hiring a candidate who can email, blog, tweet, and Skype or hiring a candidate who has the skills to do the job and a winning personality, I (and I am sure most employers) would choose the later. However, how will they ever find this candidate when technology keeps derailing their search?

 

Using Your Network To Find Job Opportunities In A Tough Market

About 4 months ago I began working with a bright, talented lawyer shortly after he was made redundant.  Like every client I work with in this market, from the outset I explained the importance of focussing his job search campaign via networking and contacts much more than targeting recruiters and jobsites

Not because the other search channels were ineffective - but because in the current job market a much larger proportion of roles are being filled by employee referral programmes and direct hiring from firms rather than recruiters and job sites. An abundance of candidates, smaller recruitment budgets and slimmed down HR teams (who manage and process applicants) being the main reasons.

Over the last few months he has made some progress - but hasn't secured a job offer despite is impressive resume / CV. This is largely (in my opinion) due to the fact that he has been searching mainly via recruiters and job sites (i.e. the complete opposite to what I suggested) and so faces huge competition for a smaller pool of positions.

When we met last week, I suggested he changed his approach to focus much more time and energy on networking and less time and energy applying to the same recruiters and job adverts that every other lawyer in town is applying to.

He told me that I was wrong - that the legal world was different to other sectors. Busy lawyers don't have time to network apparently and so my advice wasn't relevant to him.

How stupid of me. What do I know anyway, I'm only the career and recruitment guy right? If I'd listened to my parents when I was younger and become a clever lawyer like a good Indian boy then I'm sure I would have known better... .

....sorry, I digress - let me carry on with the story:

In response to this, I gave him some very direct feedback and some Sital style straight talk coaching to get him to open his mind and change his approach. I also shared some simple practical steps to take along with some client success stories to inspire him.

After much discussion and debate (why do lawyers want to debate everything...?), he reluctantly agreed to put some of my suggestions into practice.

Fast forward to yesterday when he contacts me for help and advice on finalising an upcoming interview.

"An interview...??" I ask.

Yes, an interview for a role within the in house legal team of top 100 listed firm (..in fact an award winning legal team that he would LOVE to work with).

It's initially a 12 month contract as the firm cannot officially recruit due to redundancies and cost cutting across the organisation. But they have some issues that need resolving along with a much slimmed down team so the department head created the just role for him based on his specialised expertise.

Which means there is no competition for the role, no recruiters to deal with, no HR involvement and no bureaucratic interview process. Just one interview with the decision maker and hopefully an immediate start assuming all goes well at the interview.

...and where did this wonderful opportunity come from you ask? That thing lawyers don't do - networking! 

That's right, a contact of his approached the legal head on his behalf after a chance meeting at a conference (...so lawyers aren't THAT busy then hey?).

I resisted the urge to say "I told you so" and instead point both him and you towards some lessons from this story:

The Lessons:

1. There are plenty of problems out there to solve 
 

As I mentioned in a previous article titled "3 Ways To Find Consultancy Work", most firms don't have big recruitment budgets right now - but they have lots of problems to contend with. And consequently need solution providers.

 

2. Organisations need solution providers - consultants, interim managers and contractors

 

Organisations are currently stretched - they're operating with fewer people whilst trying to maintain market share, grow revenues and (for some firms) deal with increased regulatory controls.

With the continued pressure on costs and a shaky path to economic recovery, the safe bet is to hire contractors/interim managers and consultants who can help take the pressure off - yet not be a cost burden if there is another dip in the market.

 

3.  They find these people via their network

With the pressure on costs and the abundance of talent in the market place, firms are reluctant to spend money on recruiters and head hunters unless they have to. They instead prefer to source talent directly or via employee referral programmes.

 

So if you're spending the majority of your time applying to online ads and chasing up recruiters, you're missing out on a heap of potential roles.

 

At the same time, as my legal client found out, there are roles out there that have not even been created - and often get created because a hiring manager meets a someone they can trust - an ex-colleague or a recommendation from someone they trust and know.

You don't find these opportunities by sitting in front of your computer for 6 hours a day 'job searching.'

 

4. Don't make assumptions or underestimate the power of your network or the people you know

Networking does not necessarily mean hanging out at fancy cocktail parties exchanging business cards.

Networking is all about relationships.  And relationships are based on conversations. Regardless of how busy they are, everyone I know has conversations with people they know (online and offline).

Lawyers have wives, husbands, partners, tennis partners, university friends, neighbours, golfing friends, financial planners, cousins, etc. In fact so do people in every other profession.

So everyone has the ability to connect you to people and opportunities - but only if a) you invest in that relationship and b) they know how to help.

So never underestimate the power of your network and the people they in turn know.

5. We all need some 'tough love' at times

What my legal client needed was a gentle 'kick in the pants' to get him to reconsider his failing job search strategy and some ideas on taking a new approach. He needed someone that cared enough about his success to have an honest and slightly uncomfortable conversation with him so that he could start moving forward.

How about you? Are you surrounded by lots of agreeable types or people who are willing to challenge you and show some 'tough love' in order to help you move forward..? A gentle nudge to help you step out of your comfort zone and network much more than you are now.
 

I am not for a minute suggesting that you don't utilize the services of recruiters and job sites.

 

What I am suggesting is that you search via multiple search channels approach job search whilst placing a strong emphasis on networking.

I don't know whether my legal client will be successful in securing the role - and indeed whether the role will be right for him. But I do know that he now clearly understands the value of his network.

That value and that lesson will stay with him for life - not just for his immediate job search.

By Sital Ruparelia 

 

Network Much?

Guest posting today is Julie Bauke, author of 'Stop Peeing on your Shoes: Avoiding the 7 Mistakes That Screw Up Your Job Search.' You can follow Julie at www.twitter.com/juliebauke.  

No matter who I am speaking to- large groups or an individual- heads start nodding when I talk about how important networking is, yet how little of it we take the time to actually do. “Guilty as charged” their faces say. Kinda like eating more veggies. We really do know it’s good for us- but that rarely translates into those seemingly hundreds of daily servings we’re supposed to have.

I think we all picture that guy with a pocketful of business cards who is bound and determined no one will leave the room withou t one. We don’t want to be him. Clearly. But believe it or not, there is some middle ground between him and the guy hugging the corner, staring at his shoes. That’s where you want to be- in your own comfortable spot in that middle ground.  Yep, you have to get out there and talk to people. Shy? An introvert? If so, you have an advantage. THE primary skill to being a good networker is to be a good listener.  If you believe the golden rule of networking, “give first, take second”, how can you know what your networking partner needs, i.e., what to give- if you aren’t listening?

We get so overwrought with the idea that we have to have exactly the right thing to say to everyone we meet. Try these quickie tips the next time you are planning to attend an event where you will have the opportunity to network. (yes, it IS an opportunity- not a death march)

Look for potential “victims” (just kidding) of your networking charms

If you have an opportunity to see a roster of the other attendees, do a little research on who will be there. LinkedIn is great for that. That will help you know who to seek out, who you might have something in common with, who might have info you are seeking, even fellow college alums.  This does not qualify as stalking. Trust me. Or survey the room and find someone who also appears to not know anyone or has just arrived.   

Pack a few good questions and listen generously to the answers 

Be ready to ask a good, open ended question. “Have you been to many of these events? Have you ever heard the speaker? What kinds of exciting things are going on at your company? What’s keeping you busy these days?” are a few examples. If your conversation partner mentions that he is new to the area, ask about where he came from and what he misses most, then see if you can offer information on your town that might help him adjust. If she mentions that she is spending her summer taking her oldest on college visits, and you’ve been through that process before, I bet you can offer at least a tidbit of helpful advice. This is the kind of stuff relationships can sprout from. 

Exchange business cards with purpose (and not the purpose of getting rid of all of your biz cards!)

Only offer your card or ask for someone else’s when you have a found a mutually beneficial reason to stay in touch. Possible reasons- to continue a conversation you were having, to further explore a mutual interest, because you committed to getting some info to him, etc. Or my favorite, you just found someone that you clicked with and would like to get to know them and hear more about their business.  It’s not weird- it’s flattering. Unless of course, your interest is more than professional.

(Stalker comment above may apply in this case).

Follow Up, for heaven’s sake!

Don’t spend time networking, then let the ball drop. As you meet people that you would like to develop a business relationship with, and they seem mutually interested in another contact, don’t put their business card in the pocket of your wool jacket then forget about it till next year’s first snowfall.  Follow up within 48 hours, remind them what you spoke about and suggest coffee, lunch, whatever is appropriate.

Really, it doesn’t have to be scary. But if none of the above makes you any more comfortable, remember, the guy hugging the corner staring at his shoes needs someone talk to, too.  

 

K.I.S.S. Your Job Search

Looking for a job? Are you familiar with the K.I.S.S. principle? Curious about its origin, I did what people do -- a Google search. It seems that the acronym K.I.S.S. was first coined by Clarence Leonard (Kelly) Johnson, a lead engineer at the Lockheed Skunk Works. While K.I.S.S. is commonly translated as Keep It Simple Stupid, from what my research reveals, Mr. Johnson's translation was Keep It Simple and Stupid, quite a different meaning.

Are you applying Mr. Johnson's Keep It Simple and Stupid to your job search? If not, I would encourage you to do so. Take the word simple...here's one way of thinking about the word and its application to your job search:

Start by doing the right things first and in a sequence that will generate the greatest amount of success. Build your resume once you have determined career options, not before; go to an interview once you have figured out how to speak with confidence, clarity and credibility about you, your brand, your value -- not before. Network purposefully to get closer to your goal...not farther from it. Prepare to succeed.

Invest in you. As a job seeker, you are up against competition who has invested time, energy and money in hiring some of the best and the brightest in the career management field to gain a competitive advantage. Whether the help comes with a fee, or for free, enlist the guidance of a competent someone to help you...someone who knows more than you do at this juncture! Learn the "rules" of the job search game. Build a structure that is designed to help you succeed.

Make your job search your Number One priority. Conducting a job search is akin to building a new business -- it takes 24/7 commitment. You are constantly on...even when you're resting or sleeping, you're still thinking (or dreaming) of ways, ideas and strategies to make the business better, faster, more efficient. Treat your job search with the attention and respect it deserves. You can't build a vibrant business if you don't work at it; you can't land a job if you're not focused and looking. If you think spending 40 hours per week devoted to a job search is a bit over-the-top, think again. Ask your competition how many hours they're spending and don't be surprised to hear the committed seekers say 50, 60, 70 or more hours per week. They take the job search business very seriously.

People. Build a team to help you succeed! Intentionally invite seven - ten people to serve on your Job Search Board of Directors. Businesses have boards; you, too, can have a board. Consider how a Board of Directors might serve as a good sounding board, eyes and ears on your behalf and a cheerleading squad when you need it. Going solo today in looking for work is rough, lonely and tough. Call someone as soon as you read this blog post and invite them to join your Job Search Board. What's the worst that can happen? What's the best that can happen?

Love your new job which is to find a new way to earn a living. Whether you buy a business, build a business, or choose to pursue a more traditional path of being in a business, love what you're doing now. If you're a Boomer, perhaps you'll remember a song from the 70's with lyrics "If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with." Right now, the job to love is the one you have before you...love it and you might stand out! Daily, I hear these words: I h--- looking for a job; I h--- networking; I h--- this; I h---that. (You know what the h--- stands for.) Instead, why not say to yourself "I am going to make myself enjoy this process...it isn't what I asked for...it isn't what I want...but this is where I am...and I am going to make the best of it!"

Expectations of Excellence. If you were still working at your most recent job, would you perform at peak or poor levels? Would you produce quality or "crappy" work? Would you bring an attitude of joy and gratitude to the work environment each day or would you spend your day discussing doom-and-gloom of the economy?

Thank you, Mr. Johnson, for teaching us to "Keep It Simple and Stupid." K.I.S.S. worked with spy planes and I am totally convinced it will work with a job search.

Why Increased Pay And Bonuses Won't Keep You Motivated

Whilst the politicians keep talking about clamping down on huge financial incentives in response to the financial crisis, many banks and other corporations contend that large financial incentives are required to attract, engage and retain people.   

But as Dan Pink shows us in his recent appearance at the TED Talks,  pay and financial rewards are not the most effective way to engage and motivate employees. They never were in the past, and certainly won’t be in the future.  To engage and motivate people in the future, organisations will need to take a very different strategy.

To motivate people in the 21st century organizations need to focus not on financial reward, but instead on helping employees achieve: 

1. Autonomy

2. Mastery

3. Purpose

As usual with Pink, his ideas are based on solid facts and scientific research - click here to see the YouTube clip of the talk. 

So tell me, is he right? Is what Pink has to say consistent with what motivates you..?

By Sital Ruparelia

 

Second Annual Job Action Day

Quintessential Careers and a cadre of bloggers, including Susan Guarneri (Career Assessment Goddess), emphasize bright spots in the “jobless recovery” to mark the second annual Job Action Day worldwide on Nov. 2.

While the economy is showing signs of recovery, indications that the recovery will continue to be “jobless” casts a pall over hopes for a full bounceback. Job Action Day, the second annual event spearheaded by Quintessential Careers, addresses the jobless recovery by spotlighting promising areas in which the unemployed and other job-seekers may find opportunities.

“The idea is that job-seekers can take plenty of action steps right now – today – to move forward in their careers, even if they’re unemployed and have been for some time,” said Quintessential Careers Founder and Publisher Dr. Randall S. Hansen. “We established Job Action Day last year as a day for job-seekers pummeled by the economic meltdown to take control of their careers and initiate action,” Hansen said. “Where last year shock, fear, and paralysis may have inhibited action, this year, the gloom of prolonged unemployment may be de-motivating job-seekers.”

But Hansen underscores his belief that job-seekers can take action today in his Job Action Day article 10 Things (Activities) You Can Do Today for Your Job Search. In addition, Job Action Day writers and bloggers have targeted several areas as offering bright spots of opportunity including Federal jobs, green/clean energy jobs, stimulus jobs, entrepreneurship, and career re-invention.

Noting that the job market has changed in the last year, Quintessential Careers asked career experts for cutting-edge job-search tips they wouldn’t have thought of a year ago. Quint Careers Associate Publisher Katharine Hansen compiled their responses for Job Action Day in Job-Search Tips for a Changed Economy: How to Succeed in the "New Normal”.

Cross-posted at Career Goddess Blog

You cannot always blame the economy for getting no call backs!

Yesterday I was reminded in how the telephone has either become a very under appreciated or very appreciated communications device - and that perhaps we should all be looking to use it a little bit more.

I received an e-mail from a job candidate looking to connect with the recruiter in my company. I used to be involved in third party recruitment and still seem to get my fair share of unsolicited resumes etc - usually with the standard lines of

"I was researching your company and have identified that it is one ......."

OR

"As an experienced XYZ (none of which I ever recruited) I am looking for my next opportunity and know that a company like yours........."

Sadly, a quick Google search or even just taking a guess that the e-mail address that they just sent their resume to might also have a web site might indicate if they are on the right track and it might be worth looking to see what they do. But they are either lazy or are just sending blanket e-mails or worst still have actually paid someone to do this on their behalf and that resume blasting service is lazy and stupid and are using an outdated directory.

The ONLY positive is at least they got my name right and spelled it correctly.

But this particular job candidate had not even bothered to do that. Here is their e-mail;

Dear Sir / Madam,
 
Would you be kind enough to send me the name and direct e mail address of the executive recruiter in your organization who handles Supply Chain Management  / Industrial Management mandates.
 
Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
 
Regards,

Not bothered to find a name, not even bothered to look up what the company did, not even going to bother to follow up, expecting someone to get back to them - now that is just plain dumb job searching at any time - but in this economy??!!

TRY THE TELEPHONE - OR EVEN THE INTERNET - be smart about your job search.

Just my toonies worth!

The Business of Business Cards

Remember that last interview when the Hiring Manager asked if you had a business card? Remember how you had to say "no" and kicked yourself for not having one? Remember when your buddy told you two months ago to get one?

Whether you create your business card at home, or hire a printing service, online or offline, there's no need to be without your own business card, ever again, as you explore new career opportunities. (Some people call these cards different things: networking cards, job search cards, job hunting business cards, personal branding cards.) Regardless of what you call it, you either have one, or you don't. Once you have convinced yourself you need one, the next big question becomes: "What should it say?" Consider the information below to decide what's right for you:

1. Name: Make it consistent with other career marketing and branding materials.
2. Designations/Degrees/Certifications: Keep them relevant to your target goal.
3. Address: For privacy purposes, some job seekers choose to reveal only their city/state on their business card and forgo a residential street address. If by chance your friend or relative is letting you use idle business space, or you're renting a professional (commercial) address, you can state a full street address, in addition to the city/state and zip code.
4. Phone Number: State one number, not three. Select the one where you can be contacted the first try!
5. Email/Internet Addresses: Consider the relevancy of each address; select those with brand relevance (LI, Twitter, website, Visual CV, etc.)
6. Language/Wording: Purposefully and intentionally choose words that best capture the essence of you and your brand in as few words as possible. Think: brevity, clarity and avoid clutter.
7. Text/Color/Logo: Carefully select font, color, text, and logo to best support your brand and the message you wish to convey to your target audience.
8. Photo: Some job seekers like to include a professional photo on their business card; others don't.

While there is no perfect way to create a business card, you will want to produce a distinctive one that well represents you and your brand. If you are stumped for ideas, peruse that stack of business cards collected at the last networking event. Create a stand-out card that captures attention -- for all the right reasons! And be sure, most of all, to hand them out! How about it...do you have a job hunting business card? Better yet, do you have any cool tips or ideas to share with others about making one?

Thoughts on Careers in "Retirement"

As I talk to clients in their fifties and older, they are all really conscious of needing to plan for the years that traditionally belonged to full retirement. Not only do many people not have the nest egg for retiring at 66, many simply are bored by the prospect. Here is what I am hearing:

Some are interested in transitioning from their vocation to their avocation, such as switching from VP of IT to furniture making.

Others are seeking to go into teaching, usually as an adjunct professor at the college, community college, or adult education level. Many business programs are looking for experienced professionals to lend their learned wisdom to their students. (Prefer a Ph.D. but sometimes a Master's degree suffices if the course is pragmatic enough).

Consulting is probably the most common solution I am hearing about. This option requires planning ahead in terms of developing a clear personal brand (what you do best and the value you bring to the market) and defining the services you can provide and who your target market is. Some people are staying on at their place of employment but in a consulting capacity. There is a great need for the expertise and retained corporate knowledge as the work force becomes younger and less experienced.

Volunteering, although not a money-maker, is an appealing option - but now boomers are thinking about it not it terms of serving soup at a soup kitchen, but rather in terms of how they can apply their considerable professional skills to advance the common good. Whether that means providing business strategy consulting to non-profits or setting up the technology infrastructure for a new non-profit, "retirees" have a lot to contribute.

I even hear of people in their 40s thinking about their futures in retirement. Which makes sense because developing your personal brand and evolving it through life is replacing the traditional sense of identity people got from working for the same employer for decades. It will be interesting to see how the concept of retirement evolves over the coming years. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this!

 

 

The Knowledge Weapon

"Knowledge is a weapon. I intend to be formidably armed." -- Terry Goodkind

My client shared the above quote with me the other day after a long session on life after job loss. How would you describe your current knowledge of looking for work in the 21st century? Are you current with best practices and trends, or do you not have a clue about where to turn or what to do if you lose your job? If you're in the "I don't have a clue" category," don't worry, you're in good company and it is by no means your fault -- it just means that times have changed and now is the time for you to update thyself! Listed below are a handful of questions to help you assess your basic skills in the career management realm:

1. Can you name the 12 P's of career transition management?
2. Can you cite three phases of the transition process?
3. Can you name five core elements that comprise today's résumé?
4. Can you speak with clarity and conviction about your brand, or do you think a brand is something for livestock?
5. Do you know the various types of résumés, their purposes, pros/cons and which one is best for you and your needs?
6. Can you name at least seven different types of interviews with a description of each type?
7. Can you name the most common job search engines, whether or not you would use them?
8. Do you have a minimum of 10 LinkedIn recommendations or do you wonder, what's LinkedIn?
9. Within a matter of minutes, can you craft with specificity your ideal job and what it looks like, on paper?
10. Can you articulate with clarity and conviction five compelling reasons why you will be a valuable asset to an organization, beyond the commonly-cited "I offer good experience and education."

Today's job search market is not for the faint of heart. Take a look at your transition toolbox -- how much ammunition, if any, do you have? If you're running on empty, there is no better time than now to reload. Rest assured, your competition will. Knowledge is a weapon -- are you well-armed?

cross-posted at billiesucherblog

 

15 Ways To Cope With The Uncertainty Of A Career Transition

1.  Stop over planning – it’s futile when things are constantly changing

2.  Focus on the present. Not the past, not the future. Just the present

3.  Break things down and focus on next steps

4.  Give yourself permission to be a little ‘flaky’ – it’s Ok to change your mind

5.  Give yourself permission to be a little ‘down’ at times. It’s Ok, there’s nothing wrong with you

6.  Surround yourself with supportive people to lean on

7.  Experiment more, not less

8.  Be bold. Forget small steps - start taking big leaps.

9.  Stop over thinking. Listen to your gut instincts and intuition much more than your head

10. Embrace the uncertainty

11. Be open to more than one possibility

12. Be committed to taking forward steps (even when it feels uncomfortable and scary)

13. Be Ok with screwing up and making a few mistakes. You’ll progress much faster

14. Get comfortable being uncomfortable  (the faster you learn to handle change, the more successful your career will be)

15. Count your blessings.  You know where you’re next meal is coming from . You know where you’re sleeping tonight.  So you probably have much more certainty than people less fortunate than yourself. So get some perspective on things...

By Sital Ruparelia

In-Personal Branding Tips for Job Seekers

I'm happy to introduce a new guest blogger to Career Hub. Chris Perry is a Gen Y Brand and Marketing Generator, a Career Search and Personal Branding Expert and the Founder of Career Rocketeer, the Career Search and Personal Branding Blog.

While there are tons of things job seekers can do to brand themselves online using LinkedIn, blogs and other social media, in the end, some of the most powerful and impactful personal branding takes place in your in-person interactions with others.

I reached out to fellow job seekers and career experts for effective offline and in-person personal branding tips that could help you distinguish yourself to your chosen and targeted audience of employers and network contacts, and here are five top tips that I have compiled to share with you today:

It's true. How you look and present yourself is the first thing people notice. Things to consider: Are your clothes stained? Ironed? Too big, too small? Do your teeth need whitening? Are your nails kept and clean? Has your make-up been updated recently? Is your personal hygiene in order? Do your shoes need a polish? Are your eyebrows plucked/managed (often men have unruly nose and eyebrow hair and don't realize it)? All of these personal grooming tips are not designed to make you "perfect" but merely to make you the best you can be. It only takes once to make a bad impression so make it good! - Amy Swift,SmartyPeople.com

Take into careful consideration what others see.  Listen to descriptive comment.  Recall the lifetime of reactions verbalized by friends, family, mentors and co-workers.  Release the feeling of praise or criticism that may be attached to these descriptions.  These are the 'public' responses to your exterior identity.  They are working for you when you walk in the door - acknowledge these perceptions, first to yourself and then to those you are meeting.  Those habits create a sense of self-awareness, self-acceptance and ease.  Naming the perceptions others have of you also has another almost magical effect: others will feel agreed with, creating the sense of YES in the room that any experienced business-person will tell you is the key to successful interaction and desired outcome. - Sam Christensen, SamChristensen.com

I recommend that that my clients recognize something about their voice or body language that is special and positive and make sure they use it in their interview. For one client it was her warm voice, for another it was his laugh, another his warm and strong handshake, one clients voice sounded so authentically enthusiastic, another came into the room with an energetic bounce, ... the list goes on. This helps the job interviewee feel special and it creates a nonverbal memory of interviewee in the interviewers brain. It seems small, but my client’s says it helps them feel more confident. Everyone is special.  I also recommend they put some great professionally done photos on a website, face book etc as whatever old photos may indirectly brand them negatively and they need to try to get great professional photos at the top of the search engines, under their name. Even someone that has their same name, say john blue but is not them and has a bad photo can affect their branding when they are looking for a job. - Patti Wood, PattiWood.net

From your resume through to your interview outfit, pick a color and/symbol that defines you and use it as part of your brand.  The idea is to use a power color, for example red, and apply it to all your dealings with a prospective employer.  Pick a symbol in your color that you can use on your correspondence.  A red dot, a red square, etc next to your contact details is sufficient.  You don't need to hire a branding firm, any geometric recognizable symbol will do. The simpler, the better. All follow up or confirming e-mails prior to your actual interview, as well as your business cards, should carry through with this color and symbol or brand.  Use it as part of your signature. When you arrive at the interview, make this color part of your interview outfit.  It can be a red tie, red career bag, red glasses, red scarf, red shoes, etc.  A personal color will help you brand yourself if you use the color consistently. - Marsha Hallet, SweaterArt.com

A great pitch: Ask most people who they are and what they do and you get familiar junk or babble. You need a strong, declarative statement that's memorable and lets people know exactly how you are unique and can solve someone else's problems. Example of a bad pitch: I'm a career coach. Example of a great pitch: I help job seekers get the right job faster, and for more money, by teaching them proprietary techniques they won't learn anywhere else. - Mitchell York, FiveoClockClub.com